Method of constructing suspension wheels



March 1927.

. f C. S. ASH

METHOD oE coNsTEUcTNG SUSPENSION WHEELS Filed May ll. 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet l @Hou c1514 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 c. s. ASH

' Filed May ll, 1925 March 29, 1927.

METHOD 0F CONSTRUCTING SUSPENSION WHEELS 1,622,268 March 29 1927 Q s, ASH

METHOD OF CONSTRUCTING SUSPENSION WHEELS Filed May ll. 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 @Montego Patented Mar. V29, 1927.

UNITED STATES lZZ PATENT OFFWE.

CHARLES S. ASH, 0F ROYAL OAK, MICHIGAN.

METHOD OIE' CONSTRUCTING SUSPENSION WHEELS.

Application led May 11, 1925. Serial No. 29,633.

In tension orsuspension wheels as commonly constructed, the Wire spokes are under uneven tension or strains, due to the manner v of assembling such wheels, first, in that itl is the universal practice to eliminate imparted' and at the same time give the necessary pro-V portion between spoke angle or inclination and number of spokes in each row, to provide even strains in all of the spokes under load and serviceconditions. An over strain in one row due to wrong proportions may cause breakage ot' spokes or wheel distortion, and to overcome these defects, such Wheels havebeen constructed with a greater number ot' spokes than would otherwise be necessary, increasing the weight and cost of such wheels. Wire wheels which are not exactly interchangeable with other types,-not giving the same standard Width of tread,-are not desirable under most conditions of use, and 1tis because of these several defects in wire Wheel construction that this typel ot wheel has not come into more general use.

lt is an object of the preent invention to produce a wire wheel which will compete in cost ot' manufacture, with wood and disk wheels, and will be `linterchangeable with such wheels, maintaining standard tread conditions. lt is alsoa'n object to provide a wire wheel having'a laterally offset rim with the spokes so proportioned and arranged relative to their lateral inclination and so laced into the rim as to produce like tension in all spokes and give an even distribution` of strains. .A further object is to provlde a construction and method of assembly whereby like initialY tension 1s 1nsured in all of the spokes and spoke tension adjustments in the finished Wheel may be dispensed with, thereby facilitatlng assembly and cheapening the construction.

A further yobject is to secure the several advantages inherent in the method of assembly, whereby the rigid, permanent attachment of spokes to hub and rim is facilitated and the employment of electricity as a heating medium is made possible and the terminals ot' all spokes simultaneouslyheated and then formed down by a simple operation, to rigidly and permanently attach the same-to the hub or rim. It is an object o-t' the present method to facilitate assembly and make possible a wire wheel construction wherein the spokes are under equaltension and maximum strength is secured with a minimum of weight and number of parts.

With the above and other 'ends in View the invention consists in the Wheel structure and method ot' constructing the same, -all as hereinafter set forth and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims, reference bein had to 'the accompanying drawings, in w 'Ghz- Figure 1 is a sectional view of a portion of a machine or mechanism illustrative of suitable means for use in building wheels embodying the present invention and in accordance with the method involved therein;

Fig. 2 is a front end elevation of a portion of the same with parts omitted to more clearly show the wheel in place thereon; and illustratesteps of the method;

Fig. 3 is a vsectional view similar to Fig l, showing the central or hub holding portion, with parts of the mechanism moved to position to perform the step ofsecuring the' wheel spokes to its hub; f

Fig. 4: is a sectional detail illustrative of a modified arrangement for performing the step of securing the outer ends of spokes to a rim, included in the present method;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of a portion 'of a hub mounting with a portion of a finished wheel embodying the present invention in..l

place thereon, to illustrate the offsetting of 'the rim relative to the attachment of the spokes thereto;

Fig. 6 is a sectional detail showing a modified construction of wire wheel with a demountable rim mounted thereon; and

Figs. 7, 8 and 9 are diagrammatic views of modified forms of' lspoke lacings which may be employed in building wheels in accordance with the method and construction embodying the present invention.

The primary requirement in a wire or suspension wheel 1s equal tension in all spokes. rlhis determines the ultimate strength of the wheel as the entire load is carried in suspension by the spokes and,

therefore, unless such even tension is sel vcured and maintained in service, it is danlthe spokes thereto, as has 'been the common practice in order to-make Wire Wheels, as nearly as possible, interchangeable With disk and Wood Wheels Without altering the gauge or Width of track of the vehicle.

It has not been practical in the past to provide Wire Wheels with demountable rims, for the reason that the method of assembly practiced has produced Wheels, the felloes of which were not true and did not afford perfect seating for rims and such Wheels have not been sufliciently stable to permit the use of demountable rims, as the mounting of 'such a rim was very liable to further strain an already overstrained spoke and cause breakage. Due to this defect in even tension, Wire Wheels have never beenV completely i tei-changeable withother types, that is, the c ange from Wood or disk Wheels to Wire wheels has always increased the vehicle tread width, and this defect in even spoke tension has -been due to the method of assembly practiced, Wherein'defects in stock rims were sought to be corrected by adjustment in spoke tension. This old method necessitated the employment of means for providing initial individualv spoke adjustment, as Well as such adjustment after the Wheel had gone into Service, thus increasing the cost of manufacture and Weight of Wheel. In order to provide a factor of safety to take care of this danger arising from un equal spoke tension, it has been the practice to increase the number of spokes, and in some Wheel constructions, an additional row or rows of spokes'has been employed, further increasing. cost and Weight Withouteliminating the causes of the trouble. Further, under the old method, it was necessary, in order to correct all defects in stock rims, to lacethe spokes into the rim at each side of the center line of the rim so'that the strain of the spokes would be distributed throughout the Width of the rim to pull it into proper concentric relation to its axis yof rotation and to its plane of rotation.

This lacing at each side lof the center line of the rim, prevented the offsetting of the rim relative to the load plane of the hub, sutiiciently to make Wire wheels interchangeable as to gauge or vehicle tread Width, with other types of IWheeis, and any offset attempted, furtherI increased inequality 1n spoke tension. l

It is obvious, however, that if the rim be perfectly true and concentric and the tension be equal on all spokes With the number of spokes in each ron7 properly proportioned to the inclination of the spokes in that row, all load strains, both lateral as Well as vertie cal, wili be evenly distributed on all ofthe Leaaeee spokes and said spokes may be laced into the lrim at one side of the center of the rim to any extent desired and thus give an offset to the rim suiiicient to permit of interchanging wire with other types of Wheels Without.

change in width of vehicle tread and the finished Wheel Will have suicient strength and rigidity to permit of the use of a demountable rim. The desideratum in suspension or wire Wheels is, therefore, even distribution of strains, both load and lateral, over all spokes under all conditions of use, together with rim accuracy, and this desideratuni is secured in a Wire Wheel elnf bodying the present construction and asse1nbled in accordancevwith the present method. 1

indicated as a Whole by the numeral 4t and a suitable support for the hub shell, such as a spindle 5 or movable hub-chuck members 6 and 7. The outside or rim-chuck i is preferably interioijly formed to conform to the cross-sectional shape of' the rim 2 so that portions of the chuck Williit into the channel of the rim whenthe chuck is contracted, and thus straighten and hold `the rim in exact concentric relation to the axis of the hub shell, said chuck comprising segments 8, all being movable' simultaneously and radially inward upon a guide 9, there being a guide Vfor each segment. These segments are moved inwardly upon theirguides, by any suitable means, preferably power means, such as a piston l0 connected to each segment and movable Within a cylinder 11 under Huid pressure IWithin the cylinders so that sutiitract it slightly in dia-meter and cause it to seat ,accurately within the 'formed inner side of the chuck, thus straightening the rim and forming down any high spots or other imperfections, shaping therim to the exact de-y sired shape and holding it in this condition and slightly contracted, also inexact con`1 vcient force may be applied to the rim to conl malaises Figs. 4 and 5 with their opposite plain ends engaged within the proper openings pro-V vided therefor in the hub or rim accordin to the manner in which the lspokes are place When the spokes are placed as shown in F ig. 1, with their integral heads 13 engaging seats in the rim, movable plungers 14 are preferably provided in openings in the segments 8 of the rim chuck 4, one opposite the head of each spoke, and these plungers are preferably moved inward by any suitable means, such as springs 15, to engage the heads and force them firmly to their seats. The spokes are of such a length that the inner or plain end portions 16 will projecta short distance through the openings therefor in the shell which is properly vshaped and flanged to receive these ends of the several rows, there being illustrated two rows of spokes, one engaging openings adjacent the outer end of the shell 1 and the other engaging openings in a flange at the inner end of the shell in order to give the necessary relative angle to the two rowsl to brace the wheel against lateral strains, the several spokes of either or both rows being laced tangentially into the shell, as shown in Fig. 2, as is the common practice, to take torque or driving strains.

After these spokes have been so laced and while so held by the rim chuck'with the-rim in contracted condition, the inner ends of the spokes may be formed into close contact with the shell to rigidly secure them thereto, and this forming operation may be quickly and eiliciently performed by moving the formers 17 and 18 into the ends of the shell, said formers being provided with formed electrical terminal members 19 and 20, to which are connected electrical conductors 21 and 22, and these formers may be simultaneously movedinward to bring their formed inner ends into vengagement with the inwardly projecting'ends of the spokes and form or clinch these ends over into firm contact with the surface of .the shell. This clinching or forming operation is preferably aided by heatingthese inner ends of the spokes, and such heating may be advantageously secured through the'employment of an electric current which is caused to pass through these spoke ends when these former heads or terminals 19 and`20 contact the inwardly projecting ends of the spokes, the circuit being completed by providing contact rings 23 and 24 on the hub-chuck members 6 and 7 to contact the ends of the hub shell 1 adjacent the openings through which the spoke ends pass and connecting circuit wires 25 and 26 thereto, to provide an electric circuit at the outer end of the shell by way of the wire 22, terminal or forming head 20, inwardly projecting spoke ends and adjacent portion of the hub shell, the ring terminal 24 and wire 26. A circuit is formed in a The hub-chuck members 6 and 7 are Sup- I ported with ther common axis coincident with the hub shell axis and guided in any suitable manner (not shown) to move toward the hub shell ends, and these members may be moved simultaneously or independently by any suitable means (not shown). The ring terminalor contact members 23 and 24 are preferably recessed slightly to receive the end flanges 27 and 28 onithe hub shell and by making this recess of a diameter equal to the external diameter of these end flanges, the shell may be accurately centered and held by the hub-chuck members 6 and 7 and it may be found thatcenter supporting shaft or spindle 5 ma f be dispensed with, but as shown, this spin le 5 is formed to fit closely within the shell and is provided with a shoulder 29 and detachable head 30 to locate and hold the shell relative to the rim 2. A pin '31 is provided` on the fixed support for the spindle 5 to engage an o ening in the shell and properly locate and old the hub shell against rotation relative to the rim 2, which rim is held and located in a like manner relative to the shell by an arm 32 l(see Fig. 1) on the fixed support for the segments 8, to engage the valve stem opening in the rim 2.

In the tangential arrangement of spoke lacing as shown in Fig. 2, the hub ends 16 of the spokes of each row cross each other,

and to prevent these ends of the spokes from i moving outwardly in the o enings in the yshell and to hold them firmly 1n place in ysaid openings while the ends are being formed over by the formers, means is provided for engaging within the angles at the crossing of the spokes, and as shown, such means consists of fingers 33, shown in Figs. 2 and 3, carried by the hub-chuck members 6 and 7 and movable therewith.

When the spokes are positioned, as illustrated in Fig. 4,'with'the1r heads 13 engaged in seats in the shell 1, the outer plain ends of the spokes may, in alike manner, be hot clinched or riveted down upon the rim by means of the plungers 14 serving to form down or rivet these ends onto their seats on the rim, and such forming operation may be assisted by heating the spoke ends electrically in a manner similar to that illustrated for heating the ends when the are to be hot clinched in the`shell, in this instance theplungers 14 being employed as one electrode, and the other electrode or connection 34 being clamped to the spokes. Each connection 34 for each spoke is carried by an arm 35 to which the electrical conduit (not shown) Vis attached, and this connection serves to hold tlie spoke end outwardly within its opening 1n the rim 2 a ainst the forming' pressure applied to the p unger 14 by any suitable means, such as an arm 36 engag ng the outer end ot' the plunger and to which arm the other wire (not shown) of the circuit may be connected, the arm 36 being moved by power, in Aany suitable manner to force the plunger inward and form the head upon the end of the spoke projecting through the rim and heated by the assage ot' current through this portion of t e spoke.

In Fig. 6 a wheel construction is shown' wherein the spokes are connected at their outer ends to a felloe band 37 of any suitable construction, and a demountable rim 38 is mounted upon this felloe anddetachahly held in place by a detachable side ring 39 and a bolt or bolts 40 in the usual manner. By reason of the construction of the present wheel and the method of its assembly, such felloe and demountable rim may be ernployed, for the reason that the spokes are all under even tension and the ielloe is permanently and rigidly held in 'exact concentric relation to its hub axis and in perfect form by the spokes which, therefore, may be laced intoor attachedto the elloe at any desired point of its width to give the desired lateral oiset of rim and felloer relative to the line or lines of attachment of the spokes thereto and bring the vertical center line of tread into coincidence with the vertical load plane of the hub, as `indicated by the line X-X of Fig. 5.

Prior to the present invention, it has been considered impractical to so otlset, in a wire suspension wheel, the rim or its equivalent, relative to the line or lines of attachment ci' the spokes thereto, that is, to an extent suiiicient to bring the tread and load planes into coincidence and make wire wheels exactly vinterchangeable as to vehicle tread width,

with other types of wheels. In other words, a Wire wheel which would withstand both lateral and yload strains in use, has not previously been constructed bylacing or attaching all of the spokes to the rim, outside of the center line or tread plane of the rizn, and this was due to inability to secure even distribution of spoke tension and to the method of construction practiced, wherein rim imperfections were sought to be corrected by spoke lacing tension. It is obvious, however, that if the tension ofall spokes be equal under all conditions of use, spokes may be attached to rim or felloe as desired and any suitableY form of lacing may Leases@ be used with theispokes all attached to the Ariin outside of its center line as illustratedin connection between shell and rim while the rim is being held in a slightly contracted .re-formed condition and, therefore, upon release of the rim from its chuck, it will expand slightly and put all of the spokes under Van even tension. Further, the heating of the spokes and adjacent portions ot the hub Sil causes-them to lengthen and thehub to exr pand 'appreciably, and as these parts cool after the spokes are secured in place, they contract slightly, putting the spokes under further tension. As the rim has been forced by its chuck into proper formiand alignment, the even tension/ofthe spokes will hold it in that condition and the wheel will remain true in service as the spokes forni a permanent rigid connection l between the `rim and hub shell and the even tension of the spokes will maintain that condition.

Even tension in wire Wheel spokes under all .service conditions is, however, also dependent iipon thel number of spokes in the rows relative to the lateral inclination or angle oi' the spokes in each row, and unless the wheel construction is such that such proporti-onl may be secured, some ot the spokes will be over-stressed in service. it is, therefore, essential that the proportion of the numberoi spokes in one row times the sine ofthe angle of these spokes, equal, as nearly as consistent with` roper wheel construction, the number of spoies inthe other row times the sine of the angle of the spokes in that row. 'Vifhen such proportion is substantially Secured in the Wheel lay outl and equaltinitial spoke tension is secured through the method of assembly described, substantially perfect spoke tension is secured and maintained in service, and this regardless ci' the manner of lacing the spokes into'the rim or the placeof their connection to the rim. The rim, may, therefore, be oti'setrelative to the hub, any desired distance as shown in Figs. 5 to 9 inclusive, thus not .only securing interchangeability of the wireuvheels with wheels of other types, but securing'added strength due to bringing the load plane et the wheel into coincidence with the load plane of the hub which bears the proper relll ployed, and especially so where balloon tires are used.4 Stock wheel -rims are sufliciently rigid to take the load when supported adja-I cent one side only, anch-therefore, if the initial tension and strains in service be the same in all spokes. the rim will be carried rigidly and accordingly whether. odset or not,and as such'equal spoke tension is secured through the emloyment of a wheel structure and the method of construction described, a wheel ,is secured vwhich is very strong and rigid, which is interchangeable with other types, and which embodies'teatures particularly adapting it to present day motor vehicle construction.

Having thus fully described my invention,

1. The method of constructing suspension wheels which consistsl in locating hub and outer ring members relatively, contracting the outer ring member by pressure applied along its entire periphery to bring the same intoconcentric relation to said hub, securing the spokes 1n assembled position and 1n connecting relation with said outer ring mem.

ber and hub member and while said outer ring member is so held in contracted condi;

in assembled-position .while said rim mem bei-'is so held in contracted and straightened conditiomand then releasing the rim member. whereby the spokes will be tensioned by they expansion of the rim inember upon such release vand hold the rim straight.

3.' The method of constructing suspension wheels which consists in locating and hold- `ing the rim Tand hub members relatively` reconditioning the rim member to a substantially perfect circle and straightened laterallv and holding the rim member in said position and condition. and. then securing the spokes to the rim and hub members while so held.

4. The method of constructing suspension wheels which consists in locating; relatively` andrholding. hub and rim members. with spokes in position to-connect- .said members` contracting the rim member by an even radial pressure applied throughout its peripherv. heating one of'said members and the adiacent spoke ends to expand the samev and forming the heated spoke ends? to secure the same Yto the memherwhile the member is heated and while the rim member is held in contracted condition.

5. The method of constructing suspension wheels which consists-in locating relatively9 and holding, hub and rim members with spokes in position to connect said members, heating end portions ot' the spokes and adjacent portions of thehub member to expandv the same and then forming said heated spoke ends to secure the same to said member and while said member is in expanded condition.

6. The method of constructing wire wheels which, consists in locating and holding rim and hub members in concentric relation with spokes extending between said members, heating end portions of said spokes, and then forming laterally the said end'portions of all of/said spokes simultaneously to secure them to the members.

7. The method of constructing wire wheels which consists in locating and holding rim and hub members 'in concentric relation with spokes extending between said members with end portions of said spokes `projecting through openings in one of the members, contracting and straightening laterally said rim member, heating said projecting end portions of said spokes, and then simultaneously clinching all of said heated end portions to secure the spokes to the member.

G8. The method of constructing suspension wheels which consists in locating and holding rim and hub members relatively, placing a plurality of rows of spokes in position to connect the rim and hub members with said spokes at an angle to the load plane of the wheel and with the number of spokes in one row times the sine of the angle of the spokes in that row, substantially equal to then'umber of spokes in another row or rows times the sine of the angle of the spokes in said other row or rows, contracting said rim radially and then connecting said spokes and members with said spokes in tension.

9. The method of constructing suspension wheels which consists in locating and holding rim and hub members in concentric relation, with a plurality of rows of spokes in position to connect the rim and hub members with said spokes at an angle tothe load plane of the wheel and with the number of spokes in one ronT times the sine of the angle of spokes in that row, equal to the number of spokes in another row or rows times the sine of the angle of the vspokes in said other row or rows, re-

onditioning the rim member toa substan-A iially perfect circle of lessl diameter than the desired diameter ofthe finished wheel and straight laterally. and then securing the spokes to said rim and hub members. i

10. The method of constructing suspension wheels which consists in locating and. holding hub and rim members in concentric relation with a plurality of rows of spokes connected at their inner ends to the hub member adjacent the ends thereof and insubstantially @lined lsterally st su angle to the leed plume ofthe wheel with the number si' spokes in eue row times the sine of the sugle' of 'the spokes in Llxut row, substantially equal to the numbe of speles. in another row er -ows times the ef else angle of 'the spokes im said e'he mw er rows, and with the outer` ends ef all ,of seid spokes seeulfecl to the ring member lsemlly ef ehe leuglfbudmal center messes said rim radially, securing 'said spokes to 'said hub and rim membes While Aille rim is so held, and then releasing said lm 'to permit the rim'to expand und place seul spokes under substantially equal tension.

ln testimony whereof l sjx my signature.

CHARLES S. ASH. 

